Device for use in timing ignition systems



Aug. 5, 1952 G. B. TIPPETT 2,605,636

DEVICE FOR USE IN TIMING IGNITION SYSTEMS Filed July 19, 1951//VVENTOR.' GEORGE B. T/PPE7'7] 11/5 9 TTOEl/E Y Patented Aug. 5, 1952UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE Davies FonUsE IN TIMING IGNITION SYSTEMSGeorge B. Tippett, St. Louis, Mo. Application July 19, 1951, Serial No.237,588v 8 Claims. (Cl. 73-116) The present invention relates to a noveldevice for use in the timing ofan ignition system, especially theignition system'of, an internal combustion engine, and is a continuationin part of my co-pendingapplication, SerialNumbe'r 169,- 018, filed onthe 19th dayof June 1950, now Patent No. 2,602,328. v

As set forth in said applicatiomit is' common knowledge that one of thecritical requisites for most efiicientandsmooth engine performanceisthat the ignitionsystem' be so timed, that the sparkplugs will fire asthe pistons reach the end. of. their compression strokes It. also commonknowledge, particularly among automobile'inechanics and the like, thatan engine timing operation requires not only'patience and considerableskill, but further, that even a, skilled and, patient mechanic has nodefinite assurance that" the final distributor adjustment decided uponby him, is the best. obtainable.

The distributor controls thefiring of the engine sparkv plugs, as.understood, so that prior to use of the device disclosed in my saidco-pending application, most mechanics would depend upon their sense ofhearing, as they manipulated the distributor, in order to determinewhich setting thereof seemed to produce paramount engine performance.

The primary is to provide for may be used by determining perfect objectof the present invention the, mechanic a device which him for quicklyand positively distributor adjustment. Further objects of the inventionare to provide a device which, while in use during a timing operation,will visibly demonstrate to the mechanic whether the distributor itselfis in need of repair; whether the ignition coil is functioningimproperly, whether the condenser is defective; and whether the valvesneed attention, all as will appear hereinafter. V a V The objectivesset-'f orth above correspond to those of the device; disclosed in myco-pending application aforesaid "The latter device has foundgreatfavonmjthe automotive repair in dustry, and many ofthe featuresthereof have been retained herein. v

However, as will appear, the instant device provides additional featuresand advantages, over and above those disclosed my prior invention.

In performing the'timing operation, the present device issubstituted'forany one of the spark plugs, it being commonknowledge thatif one plug fires at the proper ;tiine,the remainder of them will also,because of crankshaft design, and soon. I V

The device includes a removable adapter pro- 2 vided with a threadedportion corresponding to the lower threaded portions of certain sparkplugs. i V I That is to say, the'deviceis adapted for use in ignitiontiming of any known internal combustion engine, including airplaneengines. Obviously however, there are differences in the size of sparkplugs, so that the invention contemplates the use of adapters whereby itcan be employed in the timing of every type of internal combustionengine: r V

The principal features of the invention include the provision, ofmeanswhereby the mechanic can quickly determine th end of thecompression stroke, and-jean thus quickly adjust the distributor,regardless of the pressure developed by the piston? I In other words,the instant invention, similar to my said previously disclosedinvention, is designed to attain its objectives when applied to anyconventional internal combustion engine, without taking intoconsideration the amount of pressure developed by the pistons on thecompression stroke.

That is to say, the device comprising the invention may be used intiming all automobile engines Without requiring any adjustment of theparts incorporated in the device. Only when applied to an engine havinga known high compression potential, such as an aeroplane engine, may anadjustment berequired. Simple means are provided for such an adjustment,as will appear.

In the prior device, means are provided to visibly indicate to themechanic just when the piston reaches its uppermost point of travel.

In addition, the instant device incorporates a vertically slidableindicator bar which automatically provides positive means fordetermining the end of the compression stroke, and means for theguidance of the mechanic in regulating the spark moment, as will beseen;

Another improvement incorporated in the present device,- compris'esrotary mounting means for the plug whichis to be. engaged by the socketon the free end of a spark plug wire, when the device is in-use: L

Other features'and'adva'ntages will be apparent or referred to in thecourse of the detailed description of the invention to follow, referencebeing .had also to the accompanying drawing,

wherein the improved construction is illustrated.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device comprising the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is afront elevational View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view thereof, with an intermediate portionof an included conductor rod being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 44 inFig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views taken respectivelyon lines5--5 and 6-6 in Fig. 2;

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively onlines 1-'!, 8-8, and 9- in Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a plunger member;

Figs. 11 and 12 are elevational views of the upper end portion of saidplunger member;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a spark element associated with saidplunger member.

In Figs. 1 through 4, the device embodying the present invention isdesignated as a whole, by numeral 20.

It includes a tubular metallic member 22, the lower end portion of whichis threaded externally as at 24, and terminates in an inwardlyprojecting annular flange portion 26, as shown in Fig. 4. I

Numeral 28 indicates a circular central opening in said flange portion,and numeral 30 indicates a similar opening in an annular abutmentelement 32, these openings being in alignment, as shown.

Element 32 is formed of semi-rigidmaterial; the external diameterthereof conincides with the internal diameter of the bore 34 in tubularmember 22; and it is positioned in the latter against flange 26, for apurpose to be explained.

Reciprocable in bore 34 is a plunger 36, the lower end portion 38 ofwhich normally is seated against abutment element 32'. The upper end orhead portion 40 of said p lunger, is seen to best advantage in Figs. 10to 12 inclusive. It terminates in an upward extension 42 of reduceddiameter, whereby to provide an annular shoulder 44 which serves as aseat for the lower end of a compression spring 46.

A transverse groove 48 is formed in extension 42 and theupper end ofhead portion 40, as shown. Centrally of said head portion, and extendingdownwardly from the bottom of groove 48, is a drilled socket 50, adaptedto receive the depending non-circular stem 52 of a spark elementgenerally designated 54, and shown per se in Fig. 13. j

In addition to said stem, element 54 includes a body portion 56 merginginto an arcuate segment 58, the latter preferably terminating in apointed end 60.

The upper end portion of tubular member 22 is internally threaded, as at62, to receive a screw plug 64 provided with a kerf for adjustmentpurposes, as will appear.

Metallic tubular member 22 is enclosed throughout its length. with theexception of its threaded lower end 24, within a hollow casing generallydesignated 65. Casing 66 is molded into the preferable configurationshown from a suitable plastic, or other insulative material, such asfi-ber.

In the embodiment shown, tubular member 22 is press-fitted into thelongitudinal bore 68 of said casing. It is to be understood however,that set screw means, or other suitable means, may be employed tomaintain said member in position within casing 66.

Thesaid casing includes an upper knob section 10, integrally formed witha depending sleeve section 12, the latter being provided with alaterally extending annular flange portion 14, as particularly seen inFig. 4.

Registering elongated slots 16 and 18, are provided respectively intubular member 22 and sleeve section 12. Numeral indicates a metallicrod, the lower end portion of which is supported in flange 14, and theupper end portion of which is supported in knob 10.

As portrayed particularly in Figs. 2 and 9, said I rod is positionedadjacent pointed end 60 of the spark element 54, so that a spark gapobtains between said elements, as numeral 82 indicates.

The upper end of rod 80 terminates in a horizontally disposed portion84, which as seen in Fig. 6, extends radially outwardly to contact anannular metallic band 86.

Said band is mounted for rotation in a peripheral groove 88 provided inknob 10, and has welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto, a plug 89whichv projects laterally therefrom.

The configuration of plug 88 is such that the conventional socket on thespark plug end of a wire leading from the distributor may be removablysnapped into place thereon.

In this connection, the advantage aiforded by the rotatable bandarrangement should be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 6. There it itseen that plug 89 may be manually rotated from its full line position toany other selected position circumferentially about the device, assuggested by the broken line positions illustrated.

It is noted however, that in every position se-' lected, band 86 remainsin contact with portion 84 of. rod 80.

Numeral 9|] designates anindicator bar slidable in a rectangularlongitudinal opening 92 providedin knob 70.. Said bar is of rigidinsulative material, preferably plastic, and terminates at its upper endin a suitable enlargement 94, which may be of spherical configuration asillustrated.

The lower end portion of said bar is recessed as at'96, to define ahorizontally disposed edge 98 for a purpose to appear. The lowermost orbottom edge of said bar is designated by numeral 99. Opening 92 is solocated that the portion of bar 98 projecting below knob 18 iscontiguously disposed relative to sleeve 12, and slidable therealong.

From the foregoing it should be evident that indicator bar 9 0 may bemanually depressed until further downward movement thereof is arrestedby the enlargement 94 thereon.

Suitable yielding frictional means are provided for maintaining said barin position against fortuitous displacement. For example, an ordinaryspring-pressed ball assembly I00. such as that illustrated in Figs. 2and 5, has been found highly efficient for this purpose. Obviously,other means may be employed.

The device thus far described provides an efiicient, lightweight andcompact instrument which eliminates all guesswork in performing a timingadjustment, as will be explained.

It is noted that the spark element 54 is maintained in place by spring46, and that should said element become worn, replacement is a simpleoperation. All that is required is the unscrewing of member 84, removalof spring 46, the elevation of said element and withdrawal thereofthrough slots 16 and I8, and the insertion of a new element 54.

There are some variationsin thedesign of spark plugs, as is understood.That is to say,

- bar Elli. The latter, because of the diameters of the lower threadedsparkplug extremities of one engine may vary relative to those ofanother engine. 1 i

To this end, the invention contemplates the use of hollow adapters, suchas that'indicated generally by numeral H12, for positioning the deviceon various makes of engines. An adapter includes an internally threadedcup portion I04 to engage the externally threaded lower end portion 24of sleeve 22, as illustrated in Fig.4.; and an externally threadeddepending portion I05, the diameter of which coincides with that of thespark plug to be removed. Manifestly, each adapter is identical in everyrespect, except that the external diameter of the depending portion Hi6.may vary slightly. 7

In use, the device replaces one of the spark plugs of the engine to betimed; That is to say, a spark plug having been removed, and a properadapter having been affixed, the device is screwed into the spark plugopening.

Thereupon, the socket on the end of the wire normally leading from thedistributor to the removed spark plug, is snapped onto plug 39. Thisattaching of the socket is greatly facilitated by the rotatable mountingof the plug supporting band 85, which arrangement also provides .forunobstructed visibility, as should be manifest. Next, bar 9% isdepressed by manual pressure applied to member 9 until edge as isdisposed a short distance above spark element 5 The engine is now set inoperation. As the related piston rises on the compression stroke, thepressure engendered forces. plunger 36 upwardly against the force ofspring 48.

It is noted that said spring i compressed only sufiiciently to normallyseat said plunger against abutment 32, and that screw 64 is notprimarily an adjustment screw, but rather a means to compensate forreduced resiliency of spring 45 resulting from repeated use of thedevice, as is understood.

At the same time it is to be understood, that when the device isv to beemployed in the timing of a motor having a known high compressionpotential, rotation of screw 66 to increase the resistance of spring ieis recommended.

The first time plunger 35 is forced upwardly, arcuate segment 58 engagesedge 58 to elevate bly liiil, will remain in such elevated position asthe plunger descends on the power stroke-,. under the influence ofspring 46.

On succeeding compression strokes of the piston, segment 58 merelycontacts edgettmomentarily, Without disturbing the position of bar 90,as should be manifest. The device 20 will fire in lieu of the spark plugfor which ithas been substituted, so that aspark will flash across gap'82 at the firing moment, during the reciprocation of plunger 3?Obviously however, the flash is visible. Therefore it is an easy matterfor the mechanic to manipulate the distributor until the flash occurs asse ment 58 passes recess 96 on the compression stroke of the piston.

That is to say, since ignition moment is immediately prior to the veryend of the compression stroke, the mechanic may easily adjust thedistributor until he observes that the spark flash occurs as segment 58moves upwardly past bottom edge 99 of bar 58.

Thus, the primary objective of the invention is easily and quicklyattained, with the engine running. And, as explained hereinbefore, it isonly the detent .assemthe ideal time for the necessary to apply the'device to one, cylinder.

thus reducing the .timejrequire-d to .a'fminimum. The rotatable mountingmeans for plug 83 is particularly advantageous, in that the wire fromthe distributormaybe'swung clear'of' the front face of'the device, sothat a complete view of the flashis presented. I

The provision or. "slidable indicator'b'ar 90 affords a final checkmeanswhereby the mechanic may verify his distributor adjustment. In otherwords, by placing a thumb or finger gently on enlargement 94, and at thesame time observing the flash, the mechanic'may perceive bysense f touchalso, whether the flash occurs an instant before segment 58 momentarilytouches edge 98. T

The provision of semi-rigid abutment element 32 is also consideredimportant, in that it affords protection against injury to the bottom ofplunger portion 36, and simultaneously prevents member 54 from strikingagainst the bottom of slot it-l8.

Similar to th device disclosed in my co-pending application, the presentdevice may be utilized to obtain other important information,

For example, should the spark flash fluctuate very rapidly, a worndistributor shaft is indi cated. Should however, the spark flashfluctuate unevenly, a worn valvev is indicated. .Sp'arks flashing offthe arcuate segment 58 but not across gap 82, are indicative of"aidefective condenser.

In view of the foregoingitshould be manifest that the present inventionprovides an improved device for facilitating the difficult operation, oftiming an internal combustion engine, so that following removal ofdevice It, and replacement of the spark plug, a mechanic is positivethat the engine timing is as perfect as can bej attained. Obviously;the; invention may admit of slight modifications without departing fromthe principles thereof. Therefore I do not desire to be limited to theprecise structuralvdetails illustrated and described, the scope of theinvention being defined in the claims hereunto appended.

1. In a device. for use i'nftiming the ignition system of an internalcombustion engine: a tubular metallic member the lower endportion ofwhich is externally threaded and terminates in an inwardly projectingannular flange portion; a centralcircularopeningin the latter; an annular abutment element or semi-rigid material positioned in the bore ofsaid tubular member against said flange. portion; a central circularopening in said element in alignment with the opening in said flangeportion; a plunger .reciprocable in said bore, the lower end portion ofsaid plunger being normally seated against said abutment ele-' ment; aspark element removably supported in the upper end portion of saidplunger; 2. compression spring interposed between a screw plug in theupper end of thetubular member and an annular shoulder provided on theupper end of said plunger; a hollow casing of insulative materialenclosing all but said externally threaded lower end portion of thetubular member said casing having an enlarged knob portion at the topthereof; an elongated slot formed in said tubular member and a similarslot in registrytherewith formed in said casing for accommodatingvertical movements of a laterally extending portion of said sparkelement which projects through and beyond said registering slots; aconductor rod supported in said casing adjacent the free end portion ofsaid spark element; an

indicator bar slidably mounted in the upper knob portion offsaid casing,said bar including an upper end projecting above and a lower endprojecting below said knob portion, and being positionable to set saidlower projecting end thereof. for indicating a relative position in theplunger stroke where the spark occurs; means for. frictionallymaintaining said bar in position against fortuitous displacement thereof1 a plug member. adapted to receive the socket on the free end of aspark plug wire; andmanually rotatable means for supporting said plugmember and for maintaining a constant conductive relation between saidplug and said rod.

2. In a device for use in timing the ignition system of an internalcombustion engine; a tubular metallic member the lower end portion ofwhich is externallythreaded and terminates in an inwardly projectingannular flange portion; a central circular opening in the latter anannular abutment element of semi-rigid material positioned in the boreof said tubular member against said flange portion; a central circularopening in said element inlal'ignment with the opening in said flangeportion; a plunger reciprocable in said bore, the lower end portion ofsaid plunger being normally seated against said abutment element; aspark element removably sup.- ported in the upper end portion of saidplunger; a compression spring interposed between a screw plug in theupper endof the tubular member and an annular shoulder provided on theupper end of said plunger; a hollow casing of insulative materialenclosing all but said externally threaded lower end portion of thetubular member, said casing including anupper knob section, and adepending sleeve section integral therewith, the latter provided with alaterally extending peripheral flange portion an elongated slot formedin said tubular member and a similar slot in registry therewith formedin said casing for accommodating vertical movements of a laterallyextending portion of said spark element which projects through andbeyond said registering slots; a metallic rod the lower end portion ofwhich is supported in said'flange portion and the upper end portion ofwhich is supported in said knob section a spark gap obtaining between,thespark element and said rod; an indicator bar slidably mountedin' arectangular longitudinal opening provided ,in and knob portion, said barincluding an upper end projecting above and a lower end projecting belowsaid knob portion, and being positionable to set said lower projectingend thereof for indicating a relative positionin the plunger strokeWhere the spark occurs; means for frictionally maintaining said bar inposition against fortuitous displacement thereof; a plug member adaptedto receive the socket on the free end of a spark plug wire; and manuallyrotatablelmeans for supporting said plug member and for maintaining aconstant conductive relation between said plug and said. rod. l

3." The device set forth in claim 2"wherein the the plunger reciprocablein the bore of said tubular member includes: a head portion terminatingin anupward extension'of reduced diameter to form said annular shoulderproviding a seat for the lower end of said compression spring; atransverse groove formed in said extension and the upper end of saidseat portion; and a drilled socket centrally of said head portion andextending i downwardly from the bottom of said groove for receiving adepending non-circular stem portion of the said removably supportedspark element. g

4. The device set forth in claim 3 wherein said spark element comprises:a fiat body portion adapted to be positioned withinsaid transversegroove of the head portion of said recited plunger; the dependingnon-circular stem portion aforesaid integrally formed withv the fiatbody portion; an arcuate portion merging into said body portion; and apointed portion formed on the free end of said arcuate portion.

5. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein the upper end of saidmetallic rod terminates in a horizontally disposed portion extendingradially outwardly into constant contact relationship with said manuallyrotatable means for supporting said plug member.

6. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein the indicator bar slidablymounted in the knob portion of said casing terminates at its upper endin an enlargement of spherical configuration, at its lower end in abottom horizontal edge, and wherein said lower end portion is recessedto provide a horizontally disposed edge portionat a predetermineddistance above the said bottom edge.

7. The'device set forth in claim 2 wherein the manually rotatable meansfor supporting a plug member adapted. to receive the socket on the freeend of a spark plug wire and to maintain a constant conductive relationbetween said plug and said metallic rod comprises: an annular band ofmetallic material to which said plug is rigidly attached, and aperipheral groove provided in the knob section of said casing whereinsaid band is mounted for rotation.

8. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein the said externally threadedlower end portion of the tubular member which'is not enclosed by saidcasing member provides means for attaching thereto a selected adapter ofthe character described, whereby said deVice may be mounted on aninternal combustion engine in lieu of a spark plug removed therefrom.

GEORGE B. TIPPETT.

REFERENCES CITED" UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kreisel l Jan, 10,1928 Number

